Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High 53F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..
Rain ending this evening. Partial clearing overnight. Low 43F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Updated: November 6, 2025 @ 6:24 am
WHITE SALMON — Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn gave what he called “a brief, very brief overview” of Washington State public education funding at the White Salmon Valley School District (WSVSD) board of directors meeting March 28.
Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn.
The district is currently in a stable budget position but is looking at a continuous enrollment decline in the coming years that will affect future funding. Statewide, enrollment has not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, he said, plunging some districts into financial situations similar to what WSVSD faced last year.
“Every superintendent and school board in this state knows, or should know, that state apportionment follows the kids,” Polkinghorn said. “But what is not clear is that funding for K-12 at the state level has not kept pace with the general fund budget, meaning the portion of the state’s general fund provided for K-12 has decreased over the past five years.”
This has led to a gap between what the district receives from the state and what it needs to provide a quality education. While the state is supposed to fully fund the basic costs of a public education — identified as a responsibility in the state constitution — the current funding formula falls short because “it doesn’t recognize the unique needs and costs of individual school districts with varying circumstances in all corners of the state,” he said.
“I chose to share this information with you all this evening because I want you, the board, and you, the community, to understand that the budget crisis that hit White Salmon last year is hitting many more school districts this year,” Polkinghorn said. “And unless the funding formula and the distribution models are changed, WSVSD will be thrust right back into a budget crisis through no fault of our own.”
He urged residents to contact lawmakers and lobby for improved funding.
“As a reminder, over the past five years, our district has seen a 24% increase in our insurance cost, 36% increase in food costs, and 21% increase in fuel costs, while the legislature has appropriated less money to public education compared to the general fund,” he said. “The funding gap is coming off the back of our local community, our children and through reduced staffing and program opportunities.”
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